IT was our privilege to attend the first two days of this Convention at Sacramento City. Next week we shall give our impressions of some of the proceedings.
Our readers must not think we have turned politician because we attended a political convention. They must bear in mind that the line between politics and popular religion has become very faint and dim in California. If one wishes to know all about politics now he must go to church, where he will be instructed about “police regulations,” and learn the true nature of “sanitary measures.” And if he would learn the extreme depth of the religious sentiment of the day, he must go to a political meeting. No “shouting Methodists” ever showed so much enthusiasm as political conventions now show over “our holy religion.” But we will never have a union of “church and State” in this country! Oh, no. “We are the people.”
What will happen when the blind lead the blind?
A Word to Protestants.
With all Protestants we rejoice in the grand Reformation so auspiciously begun in the 16th century. “Justification by faith” as a ground of acceptance with God, and “the Bible and the Bible alone as a rule of faith and practice,” were truths which constituted a most precious boon to Christendom groping its way amid the darkness and errors of papal superstition.
But it would be a marvel of marvels if in any such movement all truth was discovered at once. It ought not to surprise us, nay, should we not consider it absolutely certain? that some truths would be left to be brought out by the research of subsequent generations, and that that they would from time to time discover relics of superstition not yet discarded, and new steps to be taken in the same work of reform.
Truth is progressive. Said the devoted Robinson to the pilgrim fathers as they were about to embark from Leyden, in 1620: “I am verily persuaded, I am very confident, that the Lord hath more truth yet to break forth out of his holy word.” And of the incompleteness of the work of the Reformation yet discernible among Protestant sects, A. Campbell, in his work on Baptism, p. 15, says:—
“All of them retain in their bosom, in their ecclesiastical organizations, worship, doctrines, and observances, various relics of popery. They are at best a reformation of popery, and only reformations in part. The doctrines and traditions of men yet impair the power and progress of the gospel in their hands.”
No consistent Protestant, certainly, can wish to retain any doctrine or institution of that great anti-Christian system against which the noble men of the 16th century “protested,” and so gave birth to that division of Christendom to which he considers it an honor to belong. And every sincere Protestant will be glad to learn if there still are features of his faith or practice which had their origin in the great Romish apostasy, that he may renounce and discard them.
There is one institution warmly cherished in all the Protestant world, of the origin of which the mass of religionists are very little aware—an institution of the papacy, which has been foisted into the creeds of almost all Protestant denominations, and retained under the mistaken idea that it is sanctioned in the Scriptures. We refer to the observance of the first day of the week as the weekly Sabbath. Till this is discarded and the church returns to the observance of the seventh day, the Sabbath of the Bible, the rest-day of the decalogue, the Reformation will not be complete. Multitudes are not aware that Sunday-keeping is a papal ordinance. With many a knowledge of this fact has been sufficient to lead them to turn from it, as promptly as they would from the worship of images, or the offering of masses for souls in purgatory. It is not the object of this article to give the evidence that the Sunday Sabbath is of papal origin. We here simply call the attention of Protestants to the fact that it is so. And it is a fact which all Protestants ought to know. If they wish to cherish an institution of the papacy, let them do so understandingly. Abundant evidence on this point will be given in these columns hereafter. It is a truth which must, and will, be loudly heralded through all Christendom.
Two Opinions
“THE action of the Democratic State Convention at San Jose is an alarming and ominous assault upon the very foundations of our holy religion.”—Cal. Christian Advocate.
“This is not a religious question; and there is no religious influence brought to bear except in the interest of humanity.”—Rev. W. J. Smith, Presbyterian, Sunday Sermon.
“But their witness agreed not together.” Mark 14:56.
The Whole of it.
BELOW we give the sections of the two Codes, and the two platforms, The sections from the Penal Code are under the head of “Offenses against Religion.” The Penal Code speaks of the Sunday as the “Christian Sabbath.” It enforces its observance solely as a matter of religion. The Civil Code treats it as a holiday—a day of rest for all the laboring classes.
THE PENAL CODE.
§ 299. Every person who, on the Christian Sabbath gets up, exhibits, opens, or maintains, or aids in getting up, exhibiting, opening, or maintaining any bull, bear, cock, or prize fight, horse race, circus, gambling house, or saloon, or any barbarous and noisy amusement, or who keeps, conducts, or exhibits any theater, melodeon, dance cellar, or other place of musical, theatrical, or operatic performance, spectacle, or representation where any wines, liquors, or intoxicating drinks are bought, sold, used, drank, or given away, or who purchases any ticket of admission, or directly or indirectly pays any admission fee to, or for the purpose of witnessing or attending any such place, amusement, spectacle, performance, or representation, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
§ 300. Every person who keeps open on Sunday any store, workshop, bar, saloon, banking house, or other place of business, for the purpose of transacting business therein, is punishable by fine not less than five nor more than fifty dollars.
§ 301. The provisions of the preceding section do not apply to persons who, on Sunday, keep open hotels, boarding-houses, barber shops, baths, markets, restaurants, taverns, livery stables, or retail drug stores, for the legitimate business of each, or such manufacturing establishments as are usually kept in continued operation.
THE CIVIL CODE.
“§ 7. Holidays, within the meaning of this Code, are: every Sunday; the first day of January; the twenty-second day of February; the thirtieth day of May; the fourth day of July; the twenty-fifth day of December; every day on which an election is held throughout the State, and every day appointed by the President of the United States or by the Governor of this State for a public fast, thanksgiving, or holiday. If the first day of January, the twenty-second day of February, the thirtieth day of May, the fourth of July, or the twenty-fifth day of December, fall upon a Sunday, the Monday following is a holiday.”
“§ 9. All other days than those mentioned in the last two sections are to be deemed business days for all purposes.”
“§ 11. Whenever any act of secular nature, other than a work of necessity or mercy, is appointed by law or contract to be performed upon a particular day, which day falls upon a holiday, it may be performed upon the next business day with the same effect as if it had been performed upon the day appointed.”
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Resolved, That the Democratic party, inheriting the doctrine of Jefferson and Jackson, hereby declares its unqualified enmity to all sumptuary legislation, regarding all such exercise of the law-making power as against the just objects of free government, and that all laws intended to restrain or direct a free and full exercise by any citizen of his own religious and political opinions, so long as he leaves others to enjoy their rights unmolested, are anti-Democratic and hostile to the principles and traditions of the party, create unnecessary antagonism, cannot be enforced, and are a violation of the spirit of republican government, and we still oppose the enactment of all such laws, and demand the repeal of those now existing.
REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.
History and experience unite to prove the necessity of preserving one day in seven as a day of rest from labor. Without legislation on this subject, the laboring classes might be compelled to continue in unceasing toil; therefore we are in favor of observing Sunday as a day of rest and recreation, and while we expressly disavow the right or the wish to force any class of our citizens to spend that day in any particular manner, we do favor the maintenance of the present Sunday laws, or similar laws, providing for the suspension of all unnecessary business on that day.
The Sunday Law.
REV. ROBERT MCKENZIE preached last Monday evening, in San Francisco, on the Sunday Law. His text was, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” He stated that the reason for the war between the world and Sunday is because keeping the Sabbath is a matter of conscience. From this he draws the conclusion that the Sunday Law must be upheld. If this Sunday question is a matter of conscience, then it is not a matter for legislative consideration. As a Bible expounder, he knows that this text refers to the seventh day; then, why all this cant about the Sunday Law in which we are told he indulged. There is no connection between his text and his conclusion.—Colusa Sun, Aug. 26.
The Seventh-Day Sabbath of the Lord
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in IT thou shalt not do any work.” Ex. 20 : 8–10.
OUR COUNTRY'S FUTURE FORETOLD.
By Uriah Smith
THE UNITED STATES IN PROPHECY.
BY ELD. U. SMITH.
THIS is a full exposition of a portion of prophecy which applies to our own Government, showing the position the United States holds in prophecy, and the part it has to act in the closing scenes of time.
THE SUNDAY MOVEMENT,
Which is now attracting such general attention, is thoroughly canvassed, and abundant testimony is given to prove that in a few years this will be the
ALL-IMPORTANT QUESTION
In this country. Facts and statistics are largely presented, showing in the most conclusive manner that this government is the one pointed out in the prophecy quoted. 200 pages. Bound, 40 cents. Paper covers, 20 cents.
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
A BOOK FOR THE TIMES.
The Religious Amendment to the Constitution:
OR
THE SABBATH, THE SUNDAY, THE CHANGE AND THE RESTITUTION.
THE object of the proposed Constitutional Amendment, together with the authority for it, is fully canvassed. The views of the leaders of the parties both for and against the Amendment are fairly given in this book.
☞ The present agitation of the Sunday Law makes this book especially interesting and instructive at this time.
Bound in cloth, 380 pp. Price, $1.00.
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
A MINE OF INFORMATION.
By John Nevins Andrews
History of the Sabbath and First Day of the Week
BY ELD. J. N. ANDREWS.
The Bible record of the Sabbath; the secular history concerning it; the successive steps by which the change to the first day was made; and the work of restoration, are given in detail.
EVERY TEXT OF SCRIPTURE
Concerning the Sabbath is commented on at length; and the
COMPLETE TESTIMONY OF THE FATHERS
In regard to the Sabbath and first day is given. The comparative merits of the seventh and the first day Sabbaths are fully shown. A copious index enables the reader to find the comments on any text, or the statement of any historian.
☞ Should be read by everybody. 528 pp. Price, $1.25.
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
SIGNS OF THE TIMES, SPECIAL EDITION.
By Editor
This Edition of four pages will be printed ten weeks, commencing September 7, 1882. Its object is to get before the people the position of Seventh-day Adventists on the Sunday question, and to present the claims of the true Sabbath of the Bible—the Seventh day.
Terms: One copy ten weeks, 25 cents. Six copies to one address, $1.00. $10.00 per hundred. Two and three-cent postage stamps will be taken for single subscriptions.
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES,
PUBLISHED WEEKLY, AT OAKLAND, CAL., FOR THE
Missionary Society of Seventh-day Adventists.
A twelve-page Religious Family Paper, devoted to a discussion of the Prophecies, Signs of the Times, Second Coming of Christ, Harmony of the Law and Gospel, with Departments devoted to Temperance, The Home Circle, The Missionary Work, and the Sabbath-school.
Price Per Year, $2.00
In Clubs of five or more copies to one address, to be used in Missionary Work. 1.50
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
—OR—
REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Michigan.
Miss Eliza Thayer, Sec. N. E. Tract Society, South Lancaster, Mass.
ELD. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, Ravenswood, Shirley Road, Southampton, England.